She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 674 - 672: Mindset Issues

Chapter 674: Chapter 672: Mindset Issues

Madam Zhou frowned as she watched her son and daughter-in-law leave, saying to Ji Xiaoyuan, "I really want to warn her not to visit her maternal aunt, but the lord insists that I shouldn’t. What good can come from seeing such a greedy and malicious person? Won’t she just bring harm to our Ji Family upon her return?"

Ji Xiaoyuan sighed, "The bond between mother and daughter is not something that can be so easily severed. If the fourth daughter-in-law could truly just abandon the maternal aunt who raised her so easily, then she would indeed have no redeeming qualities at all."

In the past, Ji Xiaoyuan always valued a woman’s talent and intelligence, only to realize recently that, as a wife and as the woman managing a household, talent is really not essential. Awareness and understanding of the broader picture are what truly matter.

For instance, the current fourth daughter-in-law, on the day of the marriage, it was the Ye Family’s background that was important to his Ji Family. The Ji Family had no nephews to support the family for the next generation, so in order for the Ji Family to remain unshakeable in the future, that’s why he married off his fourth son to the concubine-born daughter of the Ye Family.

In his view, the Ye Family’s property was certainly important, but the reason Ye Xinyi could marry into the noble Ji Family was also because she possessed talent, and she was recognized as one of the virtuous and talented ladies in the capital. However, now it seemed that without the support of Duke An’s Mansion, Ye Xinyi’s talents were of very little value to the family and her husband.

This included teaching the children, as women’s talents were often narrow, expressing sorrows and joys of the seasons that ultimately demonstrated a lack of generosity and magnanimity, only suitable for self-amusement under the indulgence of men.

Ji Xiaoyuan glanced at Madam Zhou and, although he did not really favor this wife and also found her somewhat mercenary, she was able to manage household affairs properly, allowing him to pursue his studies peacefully without being entangled in the disgusting matters of the inner house.

He thought sadly to himself, "The world is indeed difficult, and things cannot always turn out as desired."

Madam Zhou also sighed, "Hopefully, her maternal aunt has had some enlightenment while praying to Buddha and will have fewer harmful intentions and learn what gratitude is."

Ji Xiaoyuan did not respond. If locking someone in a Buddhist hall could truly change their nature, making them kind, then there would be no evil people left in this world.

Madam Zhou expressed her regret, "It was my negligence at that time. Seeing that the second miss from Duke’s Mansion had a good appearance and excelled in the four arts, I didn’t think much about it. Having been raised by such a greedy and insatiable maternal aunt who believed she had the right to be above the principal wife, how could her temperament possibly be good?"

Madam Zhou truly regretted it; in the past, with the Duke’s Heir Apparent and Maternal Aunt Liu as her support, no one in the house dared to look down on her fourth daughter-in-law. Thus, her manner of speaking and behavior seemed quite dignified and gracious.

However, since the news about Ye Family’s legitimate granddaughter came out the year before last, the fourth daughter-in-law not only lessened her contact with her birth family, but her behavior also changed significantly compared to the past. She increasingly revealed pettiness, her words always seemed to be looking at others’ faces, and her actions were no longer generous. She began to count her losses and gains, becoming more and more unsuitable for public appearance.

At that time, Madam Zhou was somewhat puzzled. Now, she thought that back then, her maternal aunt must have been restricted by Duke’s Mansion, and she was no longer the favored child there, losing her confidence. It was just that the fourth daughter-in-law, for the sake of appearances, although anxious inside, concealed it and said little.

Ji Xiaoyuan advised, "Well, it’s the New Year, let’s not think about these things. No matter what, this fourth daughter-in-law still knows how to abide by the women’s virtues, be dedicated to her husband and teach her children, at least that’s better than her legitimate elder sister, who is always seen out and about."

Madam Zhou glanced at Ji Xiaoyuan and scoffed, "Even if Ye Xinyan is not great, she’s still able to make a respectable living for herself out in the world. In my opinion, no matter what, a legitimate child is more reliable; those born of concubines, even if they cover it up well, can’t withstand scrutiny and ultimately don’t measure up."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyuan frowned slightly. He had concubine-born sons and daughters as well; how could they not measure up?

After a long pause, he finally said, "One cannot generalize about everything. The matters of Duke An’s Mansion are like this because Ye Hongyang conducts himself without restraint, causing the wife and concubines to lose order."

Madam Zhou had just mentioned the terms "concubine-born son" and "concubine-born daughter," which was actually meant for Ji Xiaoyuan to hear. She wanted him not to confuse her child with those of his talented concubine. Initially, upon seeing Ji Xiaoyuan frown, she felt somewhat displeased, but after hearing the master, who favored female talent, still emphasize the rules regarding wives and concubines, she felt appeased.

Ye Xinyi didn’t know how her in-laws would talk about her visit to her parents’ house after she left, nor did she have the time to think about it. Right now, she was just eager to go back and see how her parents were doing, and how her two younger brothers were.

Even though Maternal Aunt Liu had been locked up, her father, being the only son of Duke An, naturally wouldn’t be confined. Why hadn’t her father sent her any message?

The streets were not crowded on the second day of the New Year, and one could feel the desolation outside even from within the carriage. Ye Xinyi sat in the carriage, watching Ji Chengru and his son talk and laugh without meaning to, with not a trace of joy or comfort in her heart, only full of worries and sorrows.

Before long, the carriage of the Ji Family arrived in front of the gates of Duke An’s Mansion. The gatekeeper naturally knew that the Second Miss would return to her maternal home today, so upon seeing the carriage marked with the emblem of the Ji Mansion, he just greeted the coachman and opened the gate to let them through.

When they reached the Second Gate, Ji Chengru was the first to jump down from the carriage, lifting his son off as well. Then, Ye Xinyi, assisted by the maid’s arm, stepped down using the footstool.

As soon as she alighted from the carriage, she saw Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan coming out from the Second Gate, followed by maids and old woman servants. Two carriages were parked at the gate, clearly waiting for the mother and daughter.

According to common practice, whether daughters were born legitimately or not, visiting their maternal home during the New Year was mainly to pay respects to their grandmother and mother. However, the daughter of the heir of Duke An had never followed this rule.

Therefore, Madam Yin had also never entertained Ye Xinyi and her husband. Now, accidentally encountering them with their child, and with her daughter by her side, she felt calm and planned to completely ignore the family of three.

Remembering Ji Xiaoyuan’s instructions, Ye Xinyi exchanged a glance with Ji Chengru, leading her child over to perform a courtesy to Madam Yin, "Chengru (daughter) pays respects to Mother-in-law (mother)."

Ji Sheng, who was only five years old, also properly paid his respects to Madam Yin, addressing her as his maternal grandmother.

Upon hearing these titles, Madam Yin felt uncomfortable all over and had even less interest in speaking any further with them, simply replying indifferently, "No need for such formalities. Go in and pay your respects to your grandparents."

As she spoke, she did not look to see the couple’s response and turned to board the carriage, supported by Nanny Huang’s arm.

Ye Xinyi bit her lip, filled with persistent resentment.

This was a matter of mindset. If this were in the past, when Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan were being oppressed and schemed against, encountering such a scene, Ye Xinyi would have felt comforted, thinking that although her mother and sister were a concubine and concubine-born daughter, they were firmly in control of Duke An’s Mansion. During the festive season, Madam Yin and her legitimate daughter had no place in the mansion and had to sneak away to their maternal family in disgrace.

But now, she felt utterly disregarded, as if Madam Yin and her daughter looked down on her, her husband, and her son.

Suppressing the resentment in her heart, Ye Xinyi turned to Ye Xinyan and said, "Sister, are you planning on accompanying Mother to Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion? Actually, if the grandparents had their grandchildren around them at home, they would surely be joyous."